Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 427 Exclusion

Liu Zhong and Li Damu escorted the emperor and his officials northward, while Liu Daogui led Liu Muzhi, Yuan He, and others up the river to Jiankang.

Moving the capital was an extremely complicated process, involving not only people, but also books, ritual objects, money and grain, family members, and so on.

After entering the city, the Tiger Guard immediately took control of Wuyi Lane and the government treasury.

Those of the seven thousand garrison soldiers in the city who wished to return home received ten shi of grain; those who did not wish to return home were transferred to the Tiger Guard Army.

Liu Muzhi took over the Secretariat and was promoted to Vice Minister of the Secretariat, taking charge of all departments and beginning the relocation of the capital.

Liu Daogui led 12,000 elite cavalry to guard the central command, preparing for any unrest from all directions.

Around Jiankang, Liu Huaisu resigned, and the threat from the Zhenglu Army was gone. Jingkou was his hometown, and no one would rebel. In Liyang and Wuchang north of the Yangtze River, the Liu brothers, Liu Yi and Liu Fan, were like castrated eunuchs, and had not dared to make a move in recent years.

The only thing I'm worried about is Director Sun from Guangzhou and Du Huidu from Jiaozhou.

Sun Chu was a former subordinate of Liu Yu, and he commanded three thousand elite troops from the Northern Army. He had been guarding Guangzhou for many years and his strength was considerable.

Du Huidu and his son had been running their business in Jiaozhou for many years, winning the hearts of the people and having ample funds and provisions.

If the two were to join forces, an internal conflict would be inevitable.

Liu Daogui's relocation of the capital was actually a swift and decisive move, catching Sima Dewen, Sima Shangzhi, Xie Yu, and others off guard. Otherwise, according to normal logic, the resistance would have been considerable, and a civil war would not have been impossible.

The Sima clan had a legitimate status, the aristocratic families had wealth and prestige, and the Song state had military power; the three forces had already formed a unified whole.

Liu Daogui had long known that things wouldn't be peaceful, but he didn't expect the Tan brothers to make the first move.

Meng Gan came to report: "General, Tan Shao and Tan Zhi have led five thousand troops to Gushu!"

Gushu, guarding a vital passage on the Yangtze River, has long been known as the "barrier of Jiangdong." Huan Wen expanded it into a city wall with "nine li and eighteen steps" of walls, and it became the place where Huan Xuan stationed his troops.

Although Tan Shao and Tan Zhi were also from the Liu family of Pengcheng, they were closer to Liu Yu.

These days, nobody knows what anyone else is thinking.

Liu Yu and Liu Daogui rose to power through military force, a fact that everyone witnessed. Now that Liu Yu has passed away, his generals and officers have lost their constraints.

It's inevitable that some people will use the guise of "supporting the imperial court" to do other things.

Yin Zhongwen said, "The two men have marched west without imperial decree. They should not be taken lightly. We should recall them to Jiankang and seize their military power!"

Feng Kai said, "Have you not heard about Sima Zhao summoning Zhuge Dan?"

Sima Zhao wanted to usurp the throne. Knowing that Zhuge Dan was loyal to the Wei dynasty, he promoted him to Minister of Works and brought him to court. Zhuge Dan immediately joined forces with Eastern Wu and launched a rebellion against the Sima clan, thus beginning the three major rebellions in Huainan.

Jiangdong may seem calm on the surface, but as soon as someone raises their arms and calls for action, others will immediately respond.

The main force of the Tiger Guard Army was concentrated in the Guanzhong and Hebei areas. Liu Zhong's navy escorted the emperor and civil and military officials northward. Liu Daogui only had these 10,000 cavalrymen, which can be said to be the time when his forces were at their weakest.

These days, ambition is the most abundant thing.

Although the Jin dynasty was weak, it did not prevent some people from trying to seize power and profit in its name.

Apart from Tan Pingzhi, none of the Tan brothers received any meat.

Even the most outstanding Tan Daoji was not particularly outstanding compared to Mao Dezhu, Wang Zhen'e, Shen Tianzi, Zhu Lingshi, Shen Qingzhi, Fu Hongzhi, and others.

Tan Shao and Tan Zhi are only local governors now.

"Although the Tan brothers have ulterior motives, they may not necessarily be about to raise an army. They are probably still undecided. Otherwise, they would not have stayed in Gushu, but would have advanced to Xinting. Send an order to raise eight thousand elite cavalry and march east with me immediately to suppress the Tan brothers!"

No matter what the Tan brothers want to do, Liu Daogui cannot turn a blind eye.

"This humble general can go; the General will remain in Jiankang," Duan Hong volunteered.

“If you go, there will be no room for maneuver. Only I can keep the two of them in check.”

Two hours later, the cavalry assembled and galloped towards Gushu under the cover of night...

At this moment, in the city of Gushu, Tan Shao and Tan Zhi were filled with indignation.

"Have Liu Yi's troops arrived yet?" Tan Zhi was rough and reckless, and it was he who first provoked the attack on Gushu.

Tan Pingzhi and Liu Yu were sworn brothers and one of the core forces of the Song state. As soon as Liu Daogui returned to Jiangzuo, he dismissed Liu Yifu from his position as prime minister and confined him to Jingkou. Anyone with eyes could see what he would do next.

Clerk Zhao Kai said, "Liu Yi said that we should go first. He will mobilize 100,000 troops from Nanyu to advance on Liyang and look south towards Jiankang."

Tan Zhi angrily retorted, "Bullshit! He's using us as pawns while he reaps the benefits!"

Tan Shao said, "We are only requesting the General to pardon Lord Song, but Liu Yi's intentions may not be so clear."

Tan Zhi knew perfectly well what was going on, but when he heard that Liu Yifu had been dismissed from his position as prime minister, he acted rashly and led his troops into Gushu. "Where is Sun Chu? Has he made any moves?"

Zhao Kai said, "General Sun is seriously ill and has closed his doors to visitors."

Closing the door to visitors often serves as a clear statement of attitude.

With Sun Chu's lack of support and the Liu brothers' ulterior motives, the Tan brothers have become isolated.

Of course, if Liu Daogui hadn't acted swiftly and decisively, first taking control of the emperor, the court, and Liu Yifu, and if Tan Shao and Tan Zhi hadn't arrived in Gushu at the perfect time, it would have stirred up an even bigger storm.

With Liu Daogui taking down the emperor and Liu Yifu, these forces, large and small, fell apart.

"The Liu brothers, Liu Yi and Liu Fan, have always been unreliable. We can't count on them. Before we set out, I told you long ago not to get involved in this mess, but you wouldn't listen. If the General wins the world, how can he do without the Tan family?"

Tan Shao, as the elder brother, was calm and collected in his dealings with others, but he couldn't resist Tan Zhi being instigated by others.

"As the saying goes, it's better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix. Before the Duke of Song launched his northern expedition, he specifically entrusted us with the care of his heirs. Our Tan family were entrusted with the care of the young emperor in the State of Song. But once we join the General's camp, we are nothing!"

Tan Zhi was reckless, but not stupid.

Liu Daogui had many fierce generals and elite soldiers under his command, including the two Tan brothers. Even if they joined him now, it would be difficult for them to make a name for themselves. But if they stayed in Song, they would become Yuan Cong and hold military power.

Therefore, whether it is moral or economic, the Tan brothers must stand up.

Moreover, they have the governor of Yongzhou, Tan Pingzhi, behind them, who is stationed in Xiangyang.

"Things have come to this point, we can only take it one step at a time..."

No sooner had Tan Shao finished speaking than a scout outside exclaimed, "Report... The General is leading eight thousand elite cavalry straight towards Gushu, less than thirty li from here!" "What?" The two brothers stood up at the same time, their faces filled with shock.

Liu Daogui arrived far too quickly, far exceeding their expectations.

“Brother, brother… what should we do… what should we do? He wiped out… the Langya Wang clan in one fell swoop…” Tan Zhi’s words began to stutter.

If they dare to take action against even the Langya Wang clan, then wiping out the Tan clan would be a piece of cake.

Tan Shao gritted his teeth and said, "The general only has eight thousand cavalry. We have the fortified city of Gushu. There is still room for maneuver."

"Long live!"

"Long live the General!"

"Long live the Duke of Pei!"

While the two brothers were still hesitating, cheers erupted outside, and the sound of horses' hooves filled the air as cavalry charged into the city of Gushu.

The Northern Army offered no resistance and cheered.

Liu Daogui's successful Northern Expedition, which defeated Wei and destroyed Qin, made him an unparalleled figure and a "god" in the eyes of the people. He was also the uncrowned king of the Northern Army.

Under such circumstances, how could the Northern Army possibly follow the Tan brothers in their stubborn resistance?
The two brothers' faces turned pale and then flushed.

In the blink of an eye, the cavalry had already rushed to the front of the government office.

The Northern Army stood respectfully in two rows, heads held high and chests out, as if awaiting the emperor's inspection.

Everyone's face was filled with reverence and respect.

In the darkness of night, Liu Daogui sat motionless on his horse, his tall figure standing behind him, the cavalrymen silent and still, even their horses motionless.

Only the long spear and long sword in his hand emitted a chilling light.

An overwhelming aura of majesty, as powerful as a mountain or the sea, pressed down on the two brothers, making it almost impossible for them to breathe.

At this point, the Tiger Guards wouldn't even need to lift a finger; Liu Daogui's command would be enough for the Northern Army to behead the two brothers.

However, the Tan brothers were warriors after all, and their courage remained. "Your humble servants Tan Shao and Tan Zhi pay their respects to the Great General!"

The tall figure on horseback remained silent, simply gazing at the two.

Both of them had cold sweat on their foreheads.

When a great man transforms into a tiger, it is a sign of his power.

Previously, Liu Daogui did not have such great power. After Liu Yu's death, the Crouching Dragon has risen up and is gradually showing the momentum to soar into the clouds.

"Without imperial decree, you two have entered the capital region without authorization. What are you trying to do?" Liu Yiwu spurred his horse forward.

The two stammered, then came up with an excuse, "We heard... that the General is moving the capital, so my brother and I came here specifically to guard the capital..."

"Hmph!" Liu Yiwu, carrying a long spear, spurred his horse and circled around the two brothers.

The surrounding Northern Army and Tan's troops remained completely still.

"The military situation is urgent, and it is only natural for the two of you to guard Jiankang. However, you should still inform the General's Mansion in the future to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings." Liu Daogui did not reprimand or question him, and gently put it down.

Both of them were stunned. "Great-General..."

Liu Daogui said casually, "We're all from the same village, one big family. Now that the imperial court has moved the capital to Chang'an, what do you two think?"

Tan Shao was silent for a moment, then said, "Wherever the General goes, my Tan family will follow!"

With a clang, Tan Zhi drew his long sword from his waist, twirled it in his hand, and blood splattered as his little finger disappeared. "From this day forward, my Tan clan is willing to go through fire and water for the Great General, even unto death. If we break this oath, may our entire clan be exterminated!"

The oaths of warriors are more reliable than those of aristocratic families.

Of course, Liu Daogui didn't care about their oaths. The reason he didn't take them down was simply because he didn't want the Northern Army to split up.

Besides the Tan brothers, Sun Chu from Guangzhou and Du Huidu from Jiaozhou were also observing the situation.

Tan was one of the Northern Martial Masters of the Tan Clan. Under Liu Daogui were Tan Pingzhi and Tan Daoji. In addition to marriage alliances with the Liu family, the Tan Clan also had marriage ties with the Zhao and Xu families, and was intertwined with several other families. This move would inevitably lead to a major purge.

The two marched into Gushu to stand up for Liu Yifu, and were also quite loyal to Liu Yu.

When fighting on the battlefield, one should strive to eliminate evil completely, but political maneuvering is not like that. Emperor Guangwu of Han, Liu Xiu, was also raised by his elder brother Liu Yan. He swore an oath by pointing to the Luo River to pardon Zhu Wei, the enemy who killed his brother.

As long as the Tan brothers did not openly rebel, Liu Daogui would turn a blind eye.

"Oh dear, why do this? Why do this?" Liu Daogui quickly stepped forward and bandaged Tan Zhi's injured finger.

Tan Shao suddenly knelt on one knee, cupped his hands and said, "General, you have shown no mercy. My brother and I are ashamed beyond measure. The only ones who will not submit to you today are Liu Yi and Liu Fan. You need not trouble yourself, General. My brother and I are willing to be the vanguard, to take Liyang first, and then Wuchang!"

He's trying to prove himself and demonstrate his usefulness.

Liu Daogui glanced at the Northern Army soldiers present.

Each and every one of them was a brave warrior, one in a hundred, which shows the brothers' talent in leading an army.

Tan Zhi also said, "General, you may not know this, but if it weren't for Liu Yi's promise, I would never have dared to launch a military campaign! Now that the court is heading north, Liu Yi, the Liu vassal, controls the throat of the Yangtze River. He can take Jiankang to the east and scramble for Jingzhou and Xiangyang to the west. He has been building up his strength for many years and should not be underestimated!"

Indeed, Liu Yi and Liu Fan have been developing quietly for so many years, it's time to resolve this issue.

Otherwise, after the capital was moved to Chang'an, Jiangdong would be in a situation where, in the absence of a powerful leader, the weak would become powerful.

Since the brothers were willing to step forward, Liu Daogui decided to resolve the matter at once. "If the name is not correct, the words will not be proper. This matter will be discussed at length. Issue an order to promote Liu Yi to Attendant-in-Ordinary and Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and Liu Fan to Attendant Gentleman of the Palace and Minister of the Five Armies. They will accompany this General north to Chang'an to take up their posts!"

Tan Shao said, "The General is wise. Once this order is issued, the two brothers will surely rebel!"

Liu Yiwu said menacingly, "I heard that Liu Yi and Liu Fan have forty or fifty thousand men under their command!"

Tan Zhi said, "They are all a motley crew temporarily recruited in the last two years. Although they have fighting power, they are no match for my Northern Army. Now that the general has won the hearts of the people, he only needs to give an order and they will be scattered in one fell swoop."

With the Northern Expedition a success, Liu Daogui was now the popular choice, especially since he also held Sima Dezong in his hands, giving him a strong moral and legal basis.

Liu Daogui also intended to use Liu Yi to test the reactions of other forces. "Even if he has 40 or 50,000 troops, or even 150,000 troops, this hidden danger must be eliminated."

(End of this chapter)